Amid rising insecurity and targeted abductions, SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria has urged the federal government to make the protection of women and vulnerable children a national security priority.

Eghosa Erhumwunse, National Director of the organization, issued the call on Monday following recent incidents, including the abduction of over 300 students from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State.

Citing the State of Online Harms 2025 report by Gatefield, he highlighted that 68.9 million Nigerians have experienced online gender-based harassment, sexual abuse, cyberbullying, or other harms, with 58% of these attacks targeting women and girls. Nigeria ranks as the fifth-highest cybercrime hotspot worldwide.

Erhumwunse stressed that escalating insecurity has become a national emergency, warning that failing to protect children jeopardizes Nigeria’s security, development, and moral standing. He called for:

• Full enforcement of the Child Rights Law and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act
• Implementation of the Alternative Care Guidelines in all states
• Recognition of digital violence as a national security concern
• Securing schools and regulating online spaces with accountability
• Swift prosecution of abductors and online predators

He lamented that in the past decade, over 2,500 children have been abducted, exposing weaknesses in child protection systems. “Each abduction is not only a crime; it highlights the failure of our protection structures,” he said.

Erhumwunse further urged religious, traditional, and community leaders to actively participate in safeguarding children, break the culture of silence, and advocate for vulnerable groups.